BEIJING, March 1 -- French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy asked
China Wednesday to join a new global initiative to provide people in the
developing world easier access to drugs to treat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Initiated by France and Brazil, the innovative funding mechanism the
International Drug Purchase Facility aims to suitably distribute more medicines
to people in developing countries at cheaper rates.
At an hour-long meeting with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in Beijing,
Douste-Blazy said France was commitmed to the idea because it believed that at
least a tiny part of the immense wealth generated by globalization should be set
aside every year for the millions people suffering from infectious diseases.
Douste-Blazy, who is on a two-day visit to China, held talks with Premier
Wen Jiabao, too.
He welcomed the rapid growth of Sino-African ties, pledging to work with
China to help the continent to achieve sustainable development.
Li said China appreciated the France's efforts to have a comprehensive
strategic cooperative partnership.
China is satisfied with the healthy development of bilateral ties and "the
two sides promise to further enhance cooperation in the fields of aviation,
railway, energy, medicine and culture", he said.
The two foreign ministers agreed to continue having strategic consultations
on bilateral ties and international affairs, Li said, reiterating their
commitment to solving the Iranian nuclear issue diplomatically.
They exchanged views on the global issues, including the peace process in
the Middle East and the developments in Iraq.
Before flying home, Douste-Blazy will attend the opening ceremony of a
China-France cooperative forum on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) today and
sign an agreement with Health Minister Gao Qiang.
Earlier, the French minister said that he hoped the two countries would
cooperate to produce TCMs commercially because a number of French institutes had
rich experience in the study of herbs and making of traditional medicines.
(Source: China Daily)
